The Cost of Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders resulting from brain damage
that occurs during birth. In many cases, it results from preventable medical
errors that deprive an infant’s brain of oxygen and blood flow.
This can occur when medical professionals fail to adequately monitor and
address signs of fetal distress, fail to perform or delay in performing
a C-section, or commit other acts of negligence. For families, these mistakes
can have profound consequences.

As a life-altering and life-long medical condition, cerebral palsy creates
numerous challenges for both children and their families. While birth
injury lawsuits involving cerebral palsy can speak to the physical and
emotional toll brought on by the condition, it is also of the utmost importance
that they capture the full scope of financial damages families are likely
to incur. This is because children born with cerebral palsy have tremendous
needs when it comes to care, developmental assistance, and accommodations
throughout their lives.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, our Cleveland medical malpractice
lawyers know the emotional distress families face when they discover preventable
medical errors may have led to their children developing serious and long-term
birth injuries, as well as the tremendous concerns they have about financial repercussion
and their ability to provide the care their child needs. It is why we
are passionate about making the difference for our clients, and guiding
them through their legal journeys to secure the compensation they need.

Medical Costs

There are many direct costs associated with addressing the medical needs
of cerebral palsy. According to one study conducted by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the medical costs of caring for
a child with cerebral palsy are approximately 10 times the medical expenses
associated with caring for a child without disabilities. As such, it becomes
critical for families and their attorneys to closely calculate the financial
expenses they have already covered for medical-related services, and to
account for all future medical needs, including:

Frequent appointments with doctors

Care from specialists

Therapy and rehabilitation

Prescription medication

Surgical procedures, hospital stays, and in-patient treatment

Medical devices

Long-term care

Indirect & Non-Medical Costs

In addition to the substantial medical costs of raising a child with cerebral
palsy, there are also other indirect costs families will incur as they
help facilitate the growth, development, and interaction with the world
around them. These costs can quickly accumulate when you factor in the
following:

Lost income caused by family member’s inability to work

The lost earning potential of a child who may not be able to maintain gainful
employment

Premature mortality

Specialized education (speech therapy, behavioral therapy, etc.)

Modification to vehicles or homes

Daily living assistance

Adaptive clothing or shoes

Recovering Compensation

The costs of raising a child with cerebral palsy can subject families to
lifelong expenses totaling what can amount to millions of dollars, especially
in cases where conditions are severe and highly disabling. Fortunately,
our civil justice system recognizes that no family should have to bear
these burdens when a child’s condition is caused by the negligence
of nurses, doctors, or other health care providers who failed in their
legal obligation to provide reasonable care during birth.

Our award-winning
medical malpractice
legal team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP is passionate about
protecting the rights of families whose lives are forever changed by preventable
acts of negligence. If you have questions about cerebral palsy, whether
you might have a valid claim, and what our firm can do to help, do not
hesitate to contact us for a free and confidential consultation. We proudly
serve clients throughout the state of Ohio.